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W. GBIGHTON. CENTER SEAL AND BY-PASS VALVE.

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No. 448,504. Patented Mar. 17, 189 1.

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W. ORIGHTON. CENTER SEAL AND BY-PASS VALVE.

No. 448,504. Patenfied Mar. 17, 1891.

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NiT ED. STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM CRIGI'ITON, OF FORT \VAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KERR MURRAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CENTER-SEAL AND BY-PASS VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 448,504, dated March 17, 1891. Application filed June 26, 1890.? Serial No 356,853. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

ful Improvements in Center-Seals and By- Iass Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip-.

tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the construction of a bypass valve and center-seal employed in connection with gaspurifying boxes for controllin the flow of gas to and from said boxes and from one box to another.

In the employment of the ordinary centerseal in a plant of four purifying-boxes it is the practice, when one of the purifying-boxes has become fouled and requires recharging, to shut out such fouled box bya quarter-turn of the cap of the center-seal; but such box When charged with fresh purifying material cannot be brought back into the circuit until the next succeeding box has become sufficiently fouled to require refilling, when by another quarter-turn the box last charged becomes the last of the series and the fouled box is thrown out, thus necessitating at all times the loss of one box in the circuit and a consequent loss of efficiency.

It is the object of my invention to avoid this loss by providing means for shutting out of circuit anyone of the boxes of a connected series for the purpose of cleaning and recharging without in any manner interfering with the flow of gas through the remaining boxes of the series, and for bringing such box back into the series as soon as it has been recharged, thus providing a connected series of four boxes and securing greater effioiency of the plant.

I accomplish the object of my invention by constructing the cap-piece of the center-seal with a central hollow core or plug, forming a valve, communicating with the gas-inlet pipe and capable of rotation independently of the cap-piece. The said plug is divided by longitudinal Walls into two or more ports 50 orcompartments, each registering with the inlet and outlet pipes of the purifying-boxes Any number of boxes from one to all of the series can be put into circuit by increasing the number of ports in the plug and the .divisions in the valve.

Any desired number of boxes can be employed, and they may be arranged in any wellknown suitable manner.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description, Figure 1 rep- 6o resents a central vertical section of the seal and cap-piece. Fig. 2 represents a section of cap-piece at line AB of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of the cap-piece. Fig.

4: represents a plan of the central plug-valve of the cap looking into its lower end. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of the same. Fig. (irepresents a horizontal section of a modified construction. Fig. 7 represents horizontal section of the plug-valve.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

My improved center-seal is constructed in four parts-the under section, containing the main inlet and outlet pipes, the middle sec- 7 5 tion, having pipe connections to and from the purifying-boxes, the upper or cap section, and the movable valve'plug in the last-named section.

The letter A represents the usual central 8o inlet-passage for the gas opening from the main gas-inlet pipe A.

0 represents the drip-chan'iber, in which the tarry liquid accumulates, from which it can be drawn off through an ordinary overflow-pipe, (not shown) and c 0 represent doors by which access may be had to said dripchamber. The passage A is continued upwardly through the middle section and tothe upper edge thereof.

B is an annular chamber surrounding the central passage A, and is in communication with the main gas-outlet B.

The middle section is divided in the wellknown manner-namely, into eightchambers 9 5 or subdivisions it four purifying-boxes are employed by radial partitions extending from the wall 17 to the outer shell, so that each purifying-box is connected to a pair of chambers.

The letter 0" represents one of the subdi- IOO visions connected to the inlet-pipe E of a purifying-box, and the letter C represents one of the subdivisions of another pair of chambers connected to the outlet-pipe of another purifying-box. There are four such chambers 0, each connected to a box-inlet pipe E, and four chamb rs C each connected to a box outlet-pipe E The upper edges of all the radial partitions and of the walls a and Z) are planed smooth, so as to make a gastight seat for the lower edges of the valve chamber or cap, which is fitted over the middle section and adapted to be rotated thereon.

The letter H represents the outer shell of the valve chamber or cap. The interior of this chamber is divided into eight compartments H I1 which are in communication with the corresponding chambers or subdivisions C C of the central section. The eight compartments of the valve-chamber are formed in pairs of two, and the required division is preferably effected by casting with the outer shell two concentric walls L L, which may be made vertical or tapering in- Wardly, as shown, and the vertical radial plates h,h ,h hfih h, 71F, and its, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The plates or partitions 7L',7L2, 7L3, 7L4, h", and h extend from the top of the casing to the plane of the lower edge thereof; but the plates 7L and it do not extend to the top of the casing, and in fact may be nothing more than a web or rib extending from the inner to the outer wall to afford direct communication between the compartments H H, between which they lie. The lower edges of the walls L L rest, respectively, on the smooth upper edges of the walls Z) and a of the central section and the space between the walls L L establishes communication between the outlet-pipe of the last of the series of purifying-boxes, and the passage B, which leads to the main gas-outlet pipe 13. The floor L of the chamber, formed by the walls L L, is cut away between the walls It and it, going to the right to allow for the escape of gas. The wall L is, in section, an arc of two hundred and twenty-five degrees, and extends between the inner edges of the vertical partition-walls h 7?. The partition-walls 7L2 and 71/3 extend from the wall of the shell II to the continuation of the line of the are of the inner wall L. The outer wall L is a semicircle in section and extends between the inner edges of the vertical partition-wall 7L8 and the partition-wall It". The wall it extends from the wall of the shell II to the wall L.

Located centrally of the cappiece or valvechamber, and fitting within the wall L, is the hollow valve-plug O, the wall 0 of which is semicircular and fits snugly against the wall L. The wall 0 is formed re-entrant, as shown, above its lower edge, the latter being a curved rim or are n in continuation of the wall 0 and fitting snugly against the wall L. The wall 0 is cut away on each side of the reentrant wall 0, leaving two openings 0 o in the side, each opening equal to the space between the inner edges of any two of the walls h 77?, (he. The lower end of the re-entrant wall 0 is curved outward to the semicircular rim 77 forming a segmental recess in the valve-plug, and a strengthening web-rod 72 extends between the top plate of the plug and rim 02, as shown in Figs. 4c and 5. The outer rim of the cover of the valve-plug O is provided with two slots 0*, in each of which plays a pin extending upwardly from the underlying inner rim of the shell II to limit the movement of the plug. Any other suitable stop device may be used. The shell II of the cap may be rotated byany of the well-known means adapted to the purpose, and the plug 0 may be rotated independently of the shell H by means of a wrench applied to the squared projection 0.

My improved center-seal is operated as follows: The drawings show the cap set to work four boxes, the chambers H H of the valve casing or cap registering with the corresponding chambers C C of the middle section, which are in communication with the inlets and outlets of the purifying-boxes. The gas passes in throu h the main inlet A, up through the central passage A into the space M of the plug 0, thence through the opening 0 into the chamber H, down into the compartment O of the middle section, through pipe E into box No. 1, and out therefrom through the pipe E into chamber C of the middle section, thence upwardly into the chamber H through recess N, formed by the re-entrant wall 0 of the plug into chamber H, thence down into the correspondingchamber O and out to box No. 2, and so on through boxes Nos. 3 and 4 until it reaches the last outlet-chamber H of the series; thence it passes into the annular chamber 13 and main outlet B. \Vhen the box No. 1 has become fouled and requires refilling, the plug 0 is turned one-eighth of a revolution to the left, which closes the opening 0 to the inlet-chamber H of said box and registers the opening 0 with the inlet-chamber II ofbox No. 2, th us leaving but three boxes in the circuit. The gas then passes in the direction indicated by the arrows through boxes 2, 3, and 4. After box No. 1 has been charged with fresh purifying material it is brought back into the circuit by turning the valve casing or cap H, together with its valve-plug O, one-quarter of a revolution to the right, and then separately turning the plug one-eighth of a revolution to the right, bringing it back to the relative position in cap H. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The movement of the cap H and its plug 0, as above described, continues the flow of gas into box No. 2, and also brings the outletcompartment C of box No. 1 into communication With the main gas-outlet and the opening 0 of the valve-plug 0 into communication with the chamber I'I, leading to box No. 2, and tne gas passes through the boxes in the order 2 3 t 1. .Vhen box No. 2 has been fouled and requires recharging, the plug is again turned one-eighth of a revolution to the left, the valve casing or cap remaining stationary. To bring box No. 2 into the series IIO after it has been recharged, the valve casing or cap H and its plugO are turned one-quarter of a revolution to the right and then the plug 0 is separately turned one-eighth of a revolution to the right, so that box No. 2 becomes the last one of the circuit, and the gas passes through in the order 3 4t 1 2. To throw box No. 3 out for recharging, the plug is turned one-eighth of a revolution to the left, and to bring said box back into the circuit the valve case or cap H and plug 0 are turned onefourth of a revolution to the right, and the plug then separately turned one-eighth of a revolution in the same direction, so that the gas passes through boxes 4 1 2 3. To throw out box No. 4, the same operation is repeated of first turning the plug one-eighth revolution to the left and then to bring it back, turning the valve casing or cap with its plug one-fourth revolution to the right and the plug separately one-eighth of a revolution in the same direction, which brings the course of the gas back to its original circuit through boxes 1 2 3 4.

Instead of admitting gas through pipe A and the central passage A, it may be admitted through pipe B and the annular chamber B, and then properly distributed by the valve through the purifying-boxes and discharged through the passage A and the pipe A--that is, the inlet and outlet passages will be re versed. The valve, however, will operate in the same manner, performing the same func tions as before.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is capable of working any number of boxes from one to four, and by increasing the number of ports in the plug and the divisions in the valve any number of boxes desired from one upward can be operated. The shell H of the valve-chamber is cast with the radial walls h 7&2 7l 71,5 h 7& h extending from the circumference to the plane of the curved surface formed by the plug-chamber and from the top of the casing to the plane of the upper edges of the walls of the underlying central sections. The floor L is cut away only between the radial plates h it. The plug 0 is formed by three re-entrant walls 0 O O and the wall 0. The wall 0 fits snugly against the wall L, and is cut away so as, to leave an opening 0, throughwhich the gas can passfrom the central chamber of the plug to the inlet-pipes of the purifying-boxes. The walls 0' O 0 rise re-entrant from the lower flange or rim of the wall 0 to the plug-cover, and the span of the are is equal to the distance between the alternate partitions h 71, h, &c.

Fig. 6, as shown, is set for four boxes, and by turning the plug one-fourth revolution to the right it will operate three boxes; onefourth more, two boxes, and one-fourth more, making three-fourths from the starti ng-poin t, will leave but one box in operation.

In order to operate four boxes at the same time for purifying gas the plug is firstturned one-fourth revolution to the right to throw box No.1 out of use for recharging. During the short period of recharging but three boxes will be in use; but as soon as box No. 1 has been recharged it will be brought back as the last box of the circuit by turning the cap onefonrth revolution to the right and then turning the plug back one-fourth revolution to its first relative position in the cap. The gas will now first enter box No. 2, and then pass successively through boxes No. 3, No. 4, and lastly through box No. 1. In order to clean and recharge the succeeding boxes the same procedure is followedviz., first turning the plug one-fourth revolution to the rightto throw out the fouled box, and then after cleaning and recharging such box turning the valve casing or cap one-fourth revolution to the right and the plug back one-fourth revolution to the left to its previous position in the cap, thus bringing the recharged box back as the last in the circuit. This form of cap and plug is simple in construction and quite effective and satisfactory in practical operation.

The valve chamber or cap divided into inlet and out-let compartments by radialpartitions and containing a central hollow plug having an opening in its side wall, forming a communication between its interior and a compartment of the cap, and also having two or more by-pass recesses or re-entrant walls connecting inlet and outlet compartments of the cap in pairs is not specifically claimed herein, as it is made the subject of a separate application bearing Serial No. 378,263, filed January 19, 1891.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A valve chamber or cap for a center-seal divided into suitable compartments and havpartments of the cap, substantially as described.

2. A valve chamber or cap for a center-seal divided into suitable compartments for directing the flow of gas and having an inlet-chant ber containing a plug-valve provided with suitable inlet and outlet openings, and having a recess in its walls serving as a by-pass for gas between the compartments of the cap, substantially as described.

The combination, with the annular por tion of a valve chamber or cap divided into suitable compartments for directing the flow of gas, of a central plug=valve set into such annular portion and provided with a suitable inlet and an outlet opening, substantially as described.

4. In a center-seal, the combination, with the central gas-inlet pipe, of the valve chamber or cap located above the same and divided by suitable partition-walls to direct the flow of gas and communicating with the inletpipe through a hollow plug contained within the said chamber, the wall of said plug having a suitable opening to direct the lion of gas into the compartments of the valve-chambcr, substantially as describm'l.

5. In a center-seal lor gaspuritving boxes, the combination, with the gas-inlet pipe, of the valve chamber or cap located above the same and divided by suitable partition-Walls to direct the [low of gas and containing a hollow valve-plug connecting directly with the inlet or outlet pipe, said plug fitting Within the inner Wall of the valve-chamber and having one or more openings to direct the flow of gas into or from the com' 'iartments ol the valve-chamber, and having a by-pass connecting two compartments, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a center valve for gaspnritying boxes, the combination ofthe gas-inlet pipe \viththe valve chamber or cap located above the same and divided by suitable partition-walls to direct the {low of the gas and containing-a hollow plug connecting directly with the inlet or outlet pipe, said plug having a Wall which fits si'uigly Within the inner Wall of the valvechamber and having suitable openings to diroot the flow of gas into or from the compartments of the valve-chamber, and a re-entrant wall of a width equal to the distance between alternate partitions of the valve-chamber, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLTAM (RIGIITOX Witnesses:

Mi'niuv llAlt'lNE'H, J. Y. Manna. 

